She’s been travelling to big cities like Toronto and Montreal for the last seven months, preparing for upcoming shows at Much Music and YTV, yet Victoria Duffield is most excited to come back to Abbotsford and perform in her hometown.
The 16-year-old has a high profile in the community, singing at annual Canada Day celebrations, and other community events.
In school hallways, friends have stopped to say they heard her new single, “Shut Up and Dance,” on the radio.
It’s been a whirlwind for the songstress, who’s been singing and dancing since the age of seven.
Duffield was signed with Warner Music Canada last May, and has since worked with noted producers and choreographers.
Most recently, Duffield collaborated with So You Think You Can Dance judge Luther Brown in creating a music video for her first released single.
Being a finalist on YTV’s The Next Star in 2010, a reality show for young singers filmed in Toronto, helped Duffield get noticed.
While her excitement about her growing national success is apparent, she hopes to sing on stage at Abbotsford’s Entertainment and Sports Centre some day.
“To be able to have a huge show, in the new stadium where the Heat games play, it would be neat to recognize people in the crowd. I don’t get that very often.”
Going from open mike nights, to then booking her own gigs, the starlet worked hard to promote herself and never lost sight of her goal of “taking over the music industry.”
Now as a signed artist, Duffield says she feels a sense of relief.
“I’ve always had this focus and drive that I’m going to make this happen. But having Warner backing me, it makes me feel that this actually happening.”
Since being released, her single has made the Top 20 Countdown on Much Music, and her music video was in the Top Ten Hottest Dance Videos.
The production shows Duffield working on new choreography with her instructor. She feels confined and controlled but gains enough confidence to break free and dance in her own style.
Duffield’s second single will most likely hit airwaves this February. Releasing each song separately enables audiences to get to know her, Duffield says.
Her song has become a hit in Quebec, with Duffield recording a French version for listeners.
At present, the Grade 11 student is focused on rehearsing for an upcoming live show at Much Music – in between her school work.
“I’m very busy, but school is very important to me, so I work hard. My friends and family are so supportive of me, which makes it that much better.”
Duffield will make appearances on The Zone on YTV Monday, Nov. 21; Much Music on Nov. 25; and Breakfast Television Toronto on Nov. 28.
“Shut Up and Dance” made the the Top 10 at Contemporary Hit Radio and Top 40 in only eight weeks, making it the fastest rising debut single by a Canadian artist since Stereos’ “Summer Girl” made the charts in six weeks, in July 2009.
The song reached the Top 15 on iTunes this weekend, and the music video has been viewed over 400,000 times on YouTube.
To view visit, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qIePsyc-Cc.